Manchester City have zeroed in on Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović as the player they want to replace Rodri, with the German club bracing for a major battle to keep their academy product this summer.
Pavlović, 21, has developed into one of the most complete defensive midfielders in European football under Vincent Kompany at Bayern.
He holds dual German and Serbian nationality, came through Bayern’s own academy, and has become a regular starter in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season.
City’s scouting network has been tracking him closely, viewing him as the natural long-term successor to Rodri, the Spanish World Cup winner.
The challenge is convincing Bayern to sell. Per Sports Boom, the Bavarian club would not engage in any negotiations below £100 million, and there is no release clause to trigger.
Pavlović himself has publicly stated his dream is to spend his entire career in Munich, and with Leon Goretzka set to leave on a free transfer this summer, Bayern see him as even more critical to their midfield setup going forward.
At that kind of fee, the deal would rank among the most expensive transfers ever for a German international. Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool last summer, worth around £100 million, currently holds that record, meaning any successful bid for Pavlović would place him in the same territory.
City’s interest is driven partly by urgency. Rodri missed the majority of last season through injury, and Real Madrid have been linked with the Ballon d’Or winner.
This means Guardiola’s side cannot afford to delay planning for life without him.
Whether Bayern can be moved from their stance remains the defining question as the summer window approaches.
